Good morning Lensmasters!  Think sending one or two of your lens commissions to charity doesn't make a difference?  This month we received a letter from Doc Bob of Operation Helmet:



Thanks to Squidoo for your donation. That and others will give more of our warriors the gear they need for a safer and more comfortable tour accomplishing the dangerous and arduous tasks we ask of them.

The Marines have announced an upcoming troop buildup in Afghanistan in addition to the Army’s planned ‘surge’ in the near future, so we’re getting far more requests than we can answer in a timely fashion. Today’s news reports two more US troops killed in Iraq (Mosul), so the danger in that forbidding country is far from over even as we ‘stand down’ while training the Iraqi defense and police to ‘stand up’.

One of the unexpected developments lately has been the sudden rise in requests from the Army as their stock of the ‘top-of-the-line’ helmet pads is exhausted and troops are being issued what they call ‘bricks’, a slightly cheaper knockoff. Here are our latest ‘stats’ http://www.operation-helmet.org/OH-stats.html

As you and I well know, head injury and brain damage from explosives are still a leading cause of death and disability in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even though the military began supplying basic shock-absorbing pads to most troops following our hearing before the Armed Services Committee, for reasons known only to them the military started purchasing the cheapest, instead of the best, blast/impact protecting helmet pads on the market. The cheaper pads offer protection similar to the best but are almost unwearable due to poor design.

The 'GI' pads being issued are so hard and uncomfortable they cause migraine-type headaches during continuous helmet wear on long and danger-filled duty hours. When helmets cause headaches, troops almost unconsciously take them off or release the chin-strap for temporary relief. That proves deadly should the ubiquitous IED’s, RPG� s and other forms of violent ambush occur. We hear almost daily from troops asking for our help in obtaining the more comfortable and equally protective pads you help us provide. Our warriors need to concentrate on their dangerous missions, not on headaches or intermittent loss of protection caused by poorly designed helmet pads. The helmets you help us upgrade are not only much more comfortable, they are more stable on the head, cooler in summer and safer to wear… and the troops WEAR their helmets full-time without giving them a thought.

After all, helmets only work when worn.

Scientific consultants report that the supersonic ‘blast wave’ of an IED explosion causes central nervous system (CNS) damage in and of itself in addition to impact injury. A too-firm pad inside a helmet transfers this blast wave from the kevlar helmet shell directly to the skull, with predictable increase in brain injury. The pads you help us supply help decrease such transmission of harmful energy waves.

Also, military medical literature reports a high incidence of facial and head burns being treated in military hospitals.. Recent tests have shown that under special circumstances the less-desirable GI pads are highly flammable, while those we send self-extinguish when exposed to flame. We're bringing these findings to the attention of the military services, Congress and the various pad manufacturers. This is a very important safety issue and one that could result in serious injury or death should a trooper be unable to quickly remove their helmet should an IED cause their vehicle to be embroiled in a burst of flame, setting the low-cost pads on fire. We are encouraging the military to use at least the same standards as NASCAR, whose flame testing is much more rigorous and aimed at uncovering even the slightest chance helmet lining/pad material might add to burn injuries.

We had a meeting with the Marines at their headquarters in  Quantico, VA recently and are pessimistic about their making any changes without further prodding by Congress. We met with the Army on 9 December in consort with staffers from the House Armed Services Committee. The Army seems at least receptive to the idea that just maybe they should re-evaluate their decision to buy cheaper pads that the troops have so much trouble using. For years they also used the top-of-the-line Oregon Aero pads we send. Go figure.

We included a House Staffer on the Armed Services Committee in the meetings with military leaders and hope his presence will help bring about changes…but in the meantime we trudge on trying to get the best equipment available in the hands (actually, on the heads) of our troops quickly. I’ll make a more complete report on our website later; for now, the troops are still asking for our help.

I hope this explains why we’re still (reluctantly) in operation. When the military told Congress they’d take over our function, we had hoped we could wind down as the ramp-up to actual provision of blast/impact protecting helmet pads began. Imagine our disappointment when the military suddenly switched to the lower grade substitute that actually endangers troops because of the distracting headaches they cause.

We welcome your help and plan on keeping up pressure with the ‘new’ Congress as well as within the military itself to right this wrong. All the meetings and angry letters to Congress or the military don’t do a bit of good for the Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine who is on patrol TODAY. All of our donations do!

As always, no salary, fee or admin charges are deducted, so over 99.9% goes for what the purchase and shipping of helmet pad upgrades. The remaining percentage is used for supplies purchased to communicate with our donors and thank them for their assistance. I cover all other office costs personally in addition to donating monthly.

Doc Bob



Is that a great reason to create a lens or what?  Operation Helmet and dozens of other great charities are doing important work to make sure citizens in your communities get the help they need.  It just takes 5 minutes to get started!